Picket-fence machine



(No model.) 2 sheets-sheen 2. F. WRIGHT.

PIGKET FENCE MAGHINB.

No. 468,719. Patented Feb.' 9, 1892..

G il IHIIHHIUJII ||IlIllllll)IIlllllIl!!HHIHHHIIIlllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIHH .Q U E UNirsn STATES PATENT Geuren.

FRED VWRIGHT, OF COLDIVATER, MICHIGAN.

PlCKET-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,719, dated February 9, 1892.' Application filed .Tuly 27, 1891. Serial No. 400,901. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRED WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coldwater', in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picket-Fence Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in picket-fence machines; and

it consists in the peculiar constructiony of a frame for supporting the twister-spool, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a fence constructed by my improved machine, with the machine in position to continue the weaving and with the tension device also shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the machine upon the wires. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the frame of the machine on line o: of Fig. 2, showing a cross-section of but one of the twister-Wheels, partly in elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the tension-post. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of one of the equalizing-levers.

My machine consists of a frame composed of two parts Aand A. These parts are preferably of the same size and are clamped together by means of bolts B, having an interposed flexible strip C. The parts are provided at suitable points with corresponding semicircular bearings D to receive the hub F. of the twister-spools. The construction of this hub is shown in Fig. 4, carrying at one end a flange o'. to bear upon one face of the standard and at the other enda gear-Wheel l). At its rear end, and preferably centrally arranged, is a cross-bar c, having wire-passages d upon 'opposite sides, as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the flange a and the gearwheel b forming the means of securihg the hub within the frame, the bolts B clamping the frame thereon, and the elastic strip C allowing these frames to be clamped together to take up any wear that may take place in use.

In the drawings l have shown live twisterwheels jou'rnaled Aone above another and the gear-wheels intermeshing upon the front face of the standard or frame, one'of'the gearwheels, such as F, being provided with a crank-handle G, by means of which a rotary motion may be imparted to all the twisters.

three of the twisters in use for the threestrand fence; but all ve may be used, if desired.

ground-support therefor, consisting of a frame formed by two side bars e, pivoted to the lower end of the standard and provided at their forward and rear ends with suitable bearings, on which are j ournaled rollers or wheelsf. By pivoting this frame to the foot of the standard it can assume any angle thereto and gives a free movement of the frame over rough ground or up hills, where the foot of the standard would naturally assume an angular position thereto.

Upon the rear of the standard I provide at the top a horizontal guide-block g and spacing-blocks h at top or bottom, one or both of these spacingb1ocks being provided, preferably, with clamping-springs t' upon opposite sides, adapted to clamp the picket between them and hold it in position while the wires are being twisted about it.

In constructing my fence I preferably employ diagonal braces H, extending from the top of the post to the bottom of the fence between the posts and from the bottom of the fence to the top of the next post, as plainly shown in Fig. l, and a reverse brace I, extending from the bottom of the post to the top of the fence. This prevents sagging in the middle and also stiffens the fence. These braces also preferably form the means of securing the fence to the post.

My tension device for keeping the wires taut consists of the even lever j, connected at its middle to the upper end of the multiplyin g-lever 7c, which is provided on its vrear face with the hook Z, engaging with the even lever m, which is centrally connected by means of the wire mwhich passes through the tensionpost o and is wound around the tension-spindle p, journaled in friction-bearings q upon In Fig. l of the drawings I have shown but At the lower end of the frame I provide a IOO the rear face thereof, as plainly shown in Fig. 6. Thelower end of the lever 7c connects with the lower strand of wires r, while each end of the even lever j is connected, respectively, to the upper wires s and the middle wires t. But two levers j and 7c are used in a three-strand fence, while all three will be necessary in a five-strand fence, as plainly shown in Fig. l. Each lever is provided at its ends to which the wires are connected with a cross-bolt u, projecting on both. sides thereof and at one end provided with a nut u. (See Fig. 7.) The two wires u c, which together form a strand, are Wound around the projecting ends' of this bolt in opposite directions, the result being that if unequal tension is brought upon one wire it will not only turn the bolt with it, but Wind up the wire upon the opposite side, thus maintaining a perfectly even tension upon both wires in every strand, while the equalzing-lcvers maintain the saine tension upon all of the strands. As the wire is shortened by the twisting in of the pickets, the spindle p will overcome the friction of the bearing q, and thus at all times keep the proper tension upon the wires. This bearing q consists of blocks J, secured to the rear face of the tension-post 0, and of blocks K, adjustably secured thereto by means of bolts L, semicircular bearings bein g cut in these blocks to receive the spindle p. By turning up the bolts more or less the proper tension may be brought to bear upon the spindle.

Any suitable means may be provided for` turning the spindle in its bearings, such as the lever M, Fig. 6.

IVhere I desire to construct a fence with wire pickets instead of slats, as ordinarily employed,I find it desirable to weave the wire closer, and to this end I form apertures tu upon the enlargement w of the cross-bar cin each twister-spool. Thus I provide in a single spool means for weaving either wire or wooden pickets.

Vhat I claim as my invent-ion isn l. In a picket-fence machine, the combination, with the two-part standard, each part having corresponding half-bearings, twisterwheels having two sets of wire-apertures therein and journaled in the bearings, yielding material between the adjacent faces of the parts of the standard, and clamping devices for uniting the parts of the standard, subtantially as described.

2. In a picket-fence machine, the combination, with a standard composed of two parts, of corresponding half-bearings in each part, an elastic strip between the two parts of the standard, clamping-bolts, and twister-wheels jourualed in the bearings in the standard, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

M. B.ODocHERTY, N. L. LINDOP. 

